The city's proposal has been greeted by opposition from many unions and it must still be approved by the provincial government.

Dangerous job

Stackhouse said under the proposed changes there would be no disability protection for firefighters in the plan for new hires.

"We're going into burning buildings with limited visibility, the type of situations we go into, it's just one of the most dangerous jobs in the world," Stackhouse said.

"You're asking firefighters to take those risks and they will to help save people's lives but we're not going to cover them for disability?"

If the provincial government does not approve Saint John's benefit reforms, city officials say property owners could face a substantial tax hike likely combined with cuts to services.

Current pension rules require the city to top up the employee pension fund by somewhere between $8 million and $10 million.

Saint John council voted recently to ask Saint John Harbour Progressive Conservative MLA Carl Killen, who left his seat on council to run for provincial politics in September, to sponsor a private member's bill to allow for the pension reforms.

In November, the city said it was at risk of having assets seized if it does not make an overdue $5-million payment on its pension fund.